Separator for manifolding material



May 22, 1934. J. SHERMAN v SEPARATOR FOR MANIFOLDING MATERIAL Filed Sept. 19, 1931 Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 15 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriting machines, and more particularly to an attachment therefor to facilitate the separation of superposed manifolding material after completion of the writing operation.

In manifolding operations much time is lost in the separation of the interleaved carbon or transfer material from the work sheets after removal from the writing machine. To facilitate such procedure, manifolding stationery has heretofore been provided with cutouts and finger tabs. Such expedient, however, results in mutilation of the material and in non-transferring vacancies in the material as well as necessitating expensive manufacturing operations.

The present attachment is adapted to warp or offset the interleaved carbon material relative to the work sheets preparatory to removal of the finished work thereby presenting the manifolding material in divergent or askew relation to a sufiicient extent to enable the work sheets and interposed transfer sheets to be separately grasped for convenient separation after removal from the writing machine without the use of tabs and cutouts.

The object of the invention is to simplify the method as well as the means for effecting offset relation of manifolding work sheets and interleaved transfer material, whereby the respective sheets of like size and of continuous unmutilated form may be conveniently grasped for separation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical device of simple construction and of inexpensive manufacture for effecting relative adjustment of the manifolding material which will be efficient in operation, semi-automatic in its action, of few parts and unlikely to get out of repair.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a typewriter to which the present invention has been applied illustrating the separation of the offset portions of the manifolding material. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the offset relation of the manifolding material before detachment. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the offsetting device. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view thereof. Fig. 5.1llustrates the method of separating the offset detached portions of the manifolding material.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout theseveral views.

The present invention is especially designed for use in association with continuous series connected manifolding stationery. Such stationery ordinarily comprises superposed continuous record strips and interleaved strips of carbon or transfer material, the several strips being transversely scored or perforated at spaced intervals upon which lines the strips are subsequently divided into succeeding sheets after having been passed through a writing machine. Ordinarily much time is lost in the separation of the detached portions of transfer and record material from each other, and this loss to a considerable extent defeats the purpose of such continuous "series connected material. The use of tabs and cutouts for such purpose involves additional expensive manufacturing operation, and in some forms leaves vacancies or openings in-the transfer material over which no manifolding impression can be effected.

The present device enables the offsetting of ordinary continuous manifolding and record strips after they have passed the writing position and before the used portions thereof are detach-ed whereby after detachment the offset transfer and record sheets may be conveniently grasped for easy separation.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is the platen roll and 2 the traveling platen carriage of an ordinary typewriter or other writing machine. Extending about the platen roll 1 are shown superposed strips 3 of record material, and an interleaved strip 4 of transfer or carbon material. It will be understood that the manifolding assembly may comprise any number of such record and transfer strips. These strips are transversely scored or perforated at 5 upon which lines the used portions of the strips are transversely detachable from the supply portion thereof.

In order to relatively offset the record and transfer material preparatory to detachment of the used portions, there is mounted upon the writing machine carriage 2 a bracket 6 to which is pivoted an oscillatory finger lever '7 carrying laterally disposed spring fingers 8. These spring fingers 8 project intermediate the superposed strips of manifolding material and are provided with knurled or otherwise tenacious heads 9 for gripping engagement with an interposed strip of transfer material. The spring fingers 8 are under inherent tension sufficient to effect such gripping engagement with the interposed strip of transfer material. However in the normal position of the finger lever 7 and gripping fingers 8 the latter are held in separated relation by engagement with an interposed wedge shaped cam 10 carried upon the supporting bracket 6. In such separated normal position, the interposed strip of transfer material advances freely between such fingers in unison with the advance movement of the manifolding assembly under influence of the feeding devices of the writing machine. However upon the initial oscillatory movement of the finger lever 7 the gripping fingers 8 are carried beyond the separating wedge or cam 10 and immediately close into gripping engagement with the interposed strips of material under their inherent tension. The continuous movement of the finger lever 7 and with it the strip engaging fingers 8 causes a retractive movement of one side only of the engaged manifolding strips, thereby causing a buckle 11 to be formed in the engaged strip adjacent to one margin. Such differential adjustment of the opposite side margins of the strip, causes the strip to be diverted laterally and one margin thereof to be projected beyond the corresponding margin of the associated record strip in an askew position as shown in 2. The brackets 6 and gripper fingers 8 are so located that the latter engage the interposed manifolding strips below the tear-off position of the transverse division lines 5, and hence do not interfere with the subsequent detachment of the used portions of the strip. The assembly of manifolding strips are firmly grasped in their offset or askew relation, as shown in Fig. 2, and are simultaneously detached from the supply portion of the strips by being torn transversely upon the perforated or scored division lines 5 as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. The detached superposed manifolding sheets are then easily and quickly separated by grasping the protruding margin of the transfer sheet at one side and grasping the margins of the record sheets beyond the transfer sheet at the opposite side, as is shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the sheets are readily pulled apart. The lever '7 and grip fingers 8 being returned to normal position, shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, release the engaged intermediate strip due to the separating influence of the wedge 10 and the manifolding assembly is free for further advance movement in the ordinary manner during the writing operation; The present device is operated only after the writing operation has been completed and the manifolding strips advanced to the final tear-off position, whereupon a mere tapping action upon the finger lever 7 is sufiicient to grip and momentarily retract one side of the interposed transfer strip sufficiently to effect the offset or askew relation thereof with the record strips, the grasping and tearing of the several strips being accomplished as a continuous operation with that of ofisettin the transfer material.

By the use of the present device all necessity other forms of transfer or manifolding material is employed, such as transversely fed interposed carbon ribbons or strips or when carbon pack record material is employed.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a writing machine and feeding means for progressively advancing multiple superposed sheets of manifolding material past a writing position, of a retractive device mounted on the writing machine and operatively engaging onemargin of an interposed sheet beyond such writing position so as to deflect such-sheet laterally relative to adjacent sheets into projecting relation therebeyond.

2. Apparatus for facilitating the separation of superposed sheets, consisting of means for retractively adjusting one margin of one of said sheets relative to its opposite margin said means presenting such sheet in askew relation with other sheets, independently thereof, to facilitate independent grasping of the respective sheets.

3. In a device of the character described, means for advancing superposed sheets, means for facilitating separation of superposed sheets consisting of means for causing a buckle to form in one of the sheets adjacent to a lateral margin thereof whereby the continuation of the margin will be projected in divergent relation with the corresponding margins of adjacent sheets to facilitate independent grasping of the respective sheets.

4. In a device of the character described, means for advancing superposed sheets, means for facilitating separation of superposed sheets consisting of means for retracting one margin of a sheet differentially relative to the opposite margin thereof thereby causing such sheet to assume an askew relation relative to adjacent sheets whereby one margin is caused to project in divergent relation beyond the corresponding margins of associated sheets to facilitate independent grasping of the respective sheets.

5. An attachment for a writing machine employing superposed manifolding sheets, including retractive means engageable with one margin of a selected sheet for moving such sheet into askew relation with associated sheets, whereby one margin of the engaged sheet is extended in divergent relation with corresponding margins of gripper member mounted upon the writing machine and engageable with one margin of a selected strip and movable relative to associated strips for adjusting the engaged strip into askew relation therewith, preparatory to detachment of portions thereof.

7. The combination with a writing machine,

, and feeding means for progressively advancing superposed strips of manifolding material and having transverse division lines upon which the strips are divisible into succeeding sections, of a retractive means carried by the writing machine and engageable with a selected strip or strips rearwardly of the tear-01f position at which the strips are divided upon suchtransverse lines, said retractivemeans being operative to adjust the engaged strip to an askew position relative to associated strips preparatoy to detachment of such askew portions thereof.

8. The combination with a writing machine, and feeding devices for progressively advancing superposed manifolding strips, of a gripper member carried by the writing machine and engageable with a selected strip or strips of the mani folding assembly, said gripper being movable in reverse direction to the feeding movement of the strips to eifect an askew adjustment of said strips preparatory to detachment of portions thereof.

9. The combination with a writing machine and feeding devices for progressively advancing superposed strips of manifolding material past a writing position, of means for differentially adjusting opposite sides of a selected strip thereof independently of other strips to project the selected strip into askew relation with associated strips preparatory to detachment of portions thereof to facilitate the subsequent separation of the detached portions.

10. The combination with a writing machine and feeding devices for progressively advancing superposed strips of manifolding material past a Writing position, strip engaging means projecting intermediate the strips for'engagement of a selected strip or strips, said'strip engaging means being normally inoperative and permitting free advance movement of the strips, and adjusting means for moving the strip engaging means into operative engagement with the selected strip and by further movement shifting the engaged strip relative to associated strips into an askew relation with other strips therewith preparatory to detachment of such askew portions of the several strips.

1 l. The combination with awriting machine and feeding devices for progressivelyadvancing superposed strips of manifolding material pastawriting position, pivotally mounted oscillatory spring fingers projecting intermediate the strips and engageable with a selected strip or, strips, a stop normally holding the spring fingers retracted in inoperative relation whereby the selected strip may advance freely relative thereto, said fingers being pivotally movable out of engagement with the stop means and into operative relation with the selected strip, the fingers being capable of further oscillatory movement subsequent to their engagement with the strip whereby the strip is adjusted into an askew position relative to the associated strips, preparatory to detachment of portions thereof.

12. The combination with a writing machine and feeding devices for progressively advancing superposed strips of manifolding material past a writing position, an oscillatory finger lever, a pair of spring fingers carried thereby and projecting intermediate the strips, said fingers tending to approach each other under their inherent tension to grip a strip or strips interposed therebetween, a wedge member projecting intermediate the fingers when in retracted position holding the fingers separated and permitting free adjustment of the interposedstrip or strips, the fingers being disengaged from such wedge upon oscillatory movement of the finger lever and permitted to engage the interposed strip or strips, and by further movement adjust such strips into askew relation with associated strips, preparatory to detachment of portions thereof.

13. The combination with a writing machine and feeding devices for progressively advancing superposed strips of manifolding material past a writing position, an oscillatory gripper member projecting intermediate the strips, and normally permitting free movement thereof, actuating means for the gripper member for effecting gripping engagement thereof'with a selected strip or strips, and by further movement thereof deflecting the engaged strip or strips into anaskew relation with associated strips, preparatory to detachment of portions thereof.

14. The combination with a writing machine and feeding devices for progressively advancing superposed strips of manifolding material past a writing position, a movable gripper member normally projecting idly between the strips and permitting free relative movement thereof, and means for actuating such member into engagement with a selected strip or strips, and by further adjustment differentially retracting one side margin thereof relative to the other and thereby diverting the engaged strip into divergent relation with other strips preparatory to simultaneous detachment of portions of such strips.

15. The combination with a writing machine and feeding devices for progressively advancing superposed strips of manifolding material past a writing position, a retractive gripper member normally disengaged from the strips which are permitted to be fed idly relative thereto, and 

